Are you unhappy with crooked teeth? Crooked teeth are more than a cosmetic concern. Because crooked, crowded, or rotated teeth can be hard to keep clean, they can increase your risk of gum disease and potentially lead to tooth loss. Therefore it would make sense if dental insurance covered orthodontic care, including Invisalign in Rochester, NY.
While it’s true that a few dental insurance offers some level of coverage for orthodontics, this coverage is typically limited. In addition, some dental insurance might distinguish between Invisalign and other types of orthodontics.
At Contemporary Dentistry in Rochester, NY, we believe strongly that people should get the dental care they want and need. Here are some helpful tips so that you can get the most value out of your dental insurance for Invisalign.
Dental Insurance Is Variable
First, a caveat. Dental insurance plans are highly variable. Not only do they vary widely from plan to plan, but what you think is the same plan can change benefits significantly from one year to the next.
Our information here is based on information provided by insurers and our experience working with many people seeking Invisalign in Rochester, NY. We’re providing a great starting point, but before you make firm plans, it’s important to contact your insurance company. Insurance coverage for adult orthodontics is usually around $1000 but you may get more or less from your provider. Check your coverage before you start treatment and at several points throughout. However, if you read your disclaimers, you’ll probably find that dental insurance companies essentially reserve the right to change their decision at any point in your treatment, even to the point of not giving you a final estimate of your coverage until after treatment is complete.
Dental Insurance Usually Covers Orthodontic Support Procedures
One important fact to understand is that your dental insurance will likely cover some of the orthodontic support procedures that come before and after orthodontic treatment in Rochester, NY. These are largely the same whether you’re getting wire-based metal braces or clear plastic aligners like Invisalign.
This means that no matter what type of orthodontic treatment you get, you will likely get coverage for:
- Pre-orthodontic treatment visit
- Exam and start-up records
- X-rays
- Tooth extraction related to orthodontics
- Post-treatment records
- Your first set of retainers
As a general rule, if your dental coverage includes these items, it may include those items no matter whether you choose to get Invisalign or traditional metal braces. This means that your dental insurance can decrease the cost of Invisalign, even if it doesn’t literally cover Invisalign.
Request a Pre-Treatment Estimate
If you are considering Invisalign in Rochester, NY, it’s a good idea to submit a request for a pre-treatment estimate. As we said above, your insurance company likely will reserve the right to change your coverage throughout treatment. However, getting a pre-treatment estimate gives you a good idea about what you might expect your insurance to cover.
If you are working with a Rochester, NY dentist who is in-network for your insurance company, they can submit the pre-treatment estimate request for you. Otherwise, you will likely have to submit the request yourself.
At Contemporary Dentistry, we have helped many people submit these types of requests. We can help you submit yours to make it easier and get the most accurate estimate.
Is Dental Insurance Worth It?
While you’re looking at your annual benefits, take a few moments to consider whether dental insurance is actually worth the cost. Compare your annual premiums against your maximum yearly benefit.
In our experience, for most people, the savings are minimal at best, and often people end up paying more for insurance than they are ever likely to get back. This was backed up by a study performed by the American Dental Association (ADA), finding that 70% of adults will pay more for dental care by having dental insurance than they would if they simply worked with their dentist.
Another option is a Health Savings Account (HSA). This is an account that you put money into at the beginning of the tax year and can use all year round for medical expenses – including orthodontics! If you plan ahead, you could use your HSA to pay for orthodontics and get a tax benefit at the end of the tax year.
Since you are already considering your benefits, this is a good time to do the math for yourself and decide if dental insurance is worth it for you.
Other Financing Options
If you find that dental insurance isn’t right for you, you might consider our financing options. We offer CreditCare financing. It’s a dental/medical credit card that allows you to spread your payments out over a span of weeks or months depending on your needs. Applying for CreditCare is easy. Apply online and find out if you qualify within minutes.
Considering Invisalign in Rochester, NY?
If you are considering Invisalign in Rochester, NY, let Contemporary Dentistry help. We have helped many people straighten their teeth with Invisalign, and we can help you understand your benefits and how to maximize them for Invisalign coverage. We can also help if you don’t have insurance or prefer not to work with your insurance.
To talk to an Invisalign cosmetic dentist, please call or email Contemporary Dentistry today for an appointment at our office near the Shoppes at Lac de Ville.
